Keeping your car’s fluids full and clean is vital for a lot more than just top performance. Low or dirty fluids can be a safety hazard, and they can also cause significant wear and tear to your vehicle. In this guide to understanding your car’s fluids, we’ll go over the main types of fluids that you should know about and how often you should check them.
Understanding Your Car’s Fluids – 6 Fluids to Check
Your vehicle is a very important part of your day-to-day life, and it’s important to keep it healthy. Having the fluids checked regularly is an excellent way to promote vehicle longevity as well as safety.
At Tillema Auto, we’re committed to our customers’ safety and to helping you keep a reliable vehicle. When you bring your car in to Tillema Auto for regular oil changes, we’ll make sure that these fluids are topped off and clean.
If you check, change, or add fluid to your vehicle yourself, be sure to always check the manufacturer instructions for your specific vehicle to see what type of fluid you should be using.
Here are 6 fluids to check regularly.
1. Engine Oil
Engine oil is one of the most important fluids to be checking regularly. Engine oil lubricates the engine’s moving parts. This prevents excessive wear and tear on your vehicle. Engine oil also cools the engine’s parts, enhances fuel efficiency, and more. When it gets low or too dirty, you’re not only risking extra wear and tear on your vehicle, but it can also cause the engine to overheat and could even cause a fire in more extreme cases.
You should change your oil approximately every 3,000 miles on semi-synthetics and 5,000 miles on full synthetic.
When you bring your vehicle in to Tillema Auto for an oil change, we’ll also change the filter and check all of the other fluid levels of your vehicle. We’ll also check tire pressure and the other major components to make sure that your vehicle is safe for driving.
2. Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is also extremely important. Without it, your brakes won’t work. In addition to actually using hydraulic pressure to allow your brakes to actually stop the vehicle, brake fluid also helps to prevent rust and corrosion.
Here are a few ways that you can tell if your brake fluid needs attention:
- If the brakes feel different, soft, or don’t respond as well as usual.
- If your ABS light is on
- If you notice a burning smell
If you’re not sure your brakes are working quite right, give us a call at 616-878-5991, or stop by and see us. We’re here to help!
3. Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid acts as a coolant and also lubricates the parts inside the transmission. It’s important that this fluid is kept both full and clean in order to keep your internal gears from being damaged.
Your transmission fluid levels should be checked at least once a year, or every 30,000 – 50,000 miles.
Keep in mind that automatic vehicles use a different transmission fluid than manual vehicles.
4. Power Steering Fluid
Power steering fluid aids in the hydraulic steering system on vehicles that have power steering. When it gets too low, your power steering will no longer work.
If you notice squeaking when you turn your wheel or simply find that steering is becoming more difficult, it’s time to top off your power steering fluid!
5. Coolant
By nature, engines get hot! Coolant is necessary to keep your engine from overheating. It also lubricates the parts and prevents damage to the head gasket, water pump, cylinder, and piston timing.
If your coolant is low, you’ll need to top it off. However, if you notice it consistently being low, you may need to have your vehicle checked to see if there’s a leak or another problem.
It’s important to note that you should not add coolant when the engine is hot. If it’s hot enough, the pressure can actually scald you.
6. Windshield Wiper Fluid
Keeping your windshield wiper fluid filled ensures that you can use your wipers effectively and keep your windshield clean in inclement weather or if it gets too dirty while driving. Of course, visibility is very important for safe driving!
If your fluid is low, simply top it off. A funnel is helpful for this.
We’re Here to Help
Does understanding your car’s fluids have you stumped? At Tillema Auto, it’s our priority to provide safe, honest, and reliable vehicle service. Contact us or stop by our service center. We’re here to help keep you safe on the road.
